Austintown trustees hear from airport officials, take no action

Trustees heard from a Western Reserve Port Authority representative Monday but took no action on providing money for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

Trustee Lisa Oles said there needs to be further talks before deciding. “They requested somewhat of a donation in the amount of $22,000 based on our population,” she said.

Oles noted the airport already has approached other cities and townships in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Airport officials are seeking funding to bolster a grant and possibly secure daily service from United Airlines.

“The priority right now in our township is getting our roads fixed up after this brutal winter, and any money in our discretionary fund I want to benefit our Austintown residents,” she said.

The township voted to approve a property lease agreement with Mahoning County commissioners for recycling containers for $24,780 for this year. Oles said recycling bins are being removed from their location at the township office, 82 Ohltown Road.

The other three locations will remain. Those are at Austintown Park, 6000 Kirk Road; Trustee Park, 1075 S. Raccoon Road; and the fire station at 1690 S. Turner Road.

The funds from the lease go mainly toward the parks department since they clean up the area around the drop-off bins.

Oles said for the past several years, the township had been receiving $42,000 a year since the Raccoon Road location was the highest producing recycling location in the county.

“We are hoping that next year we are able to get up to the amount we were able to collect, which was $42,000,” she said.

Oles added that the township has entertained the thought of running its own recycling service, but only if it were feasible and would bring in additional revenue for Austintown.